Rose plant--Meikruza variety

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant is provided having double blossoms which are of an attractive pale yellow coloration which often is very lightly suffused with a light salmon pink coloration. The new variety is well adapted for the production of long-lasting cut flowers on an abundant basis while being grown under greenhouse conditions. The new variety also exhibits excellent vigor and disease resistance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant of the present invention was created by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. The seed parent resulted from the artificial pollination of the Meialfi variety (non-patented) by the product of the artificial pollination of the Meger and Meban varieties (each non-patented). The pollen parent of the new variety was created by first crossing the Show Girl variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 646) and the Meialto variety (non-patented) to produce a seed parent which was subsequently crossed by the product of the Meialto variety (non-patented) and the Tropicana variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,969). The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows: ##EQU1##

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and 60 plantlets were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety. The desirable qualities of the new variety have been confirmed through extensive testing, and the importance of the new variety has been firmly established.

It was found that the new variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant of the present invention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

(a) from a physical point of view, the plant has a deep green adult wood, an upright growth habit, and forms attractive pale yellow blossoms of long duration which often are very lightly suffused with a light salmon pink coloration and comprise consistent petals; and

(b) from a biological point of view, the plant has vigorous vegetation, flowers abundantly, and exhibits good disease resistance.

The new variety meets the needs of the horticultural industry for all usages. It has been found, however, that the new variety particularly is well suited for growing in greenhouses where it forces well to produce quality cut flowers.

The blossoms of the new variety have been found to be long-lasting, and the petals detach clearly. Both the buds and the open flowers exhibit the unique coloration described herein. However, the very light salmon pink suffusion which frequently is observed tends to occur primarily when cool and/or relatively dark growing conditions are encountered (e.g., during the springtime) and then tends to be present primarily on newly opened blossoms rather than on the fully opened blossoms immediately prior to petal drop which often tend to be virtually white in coloration. The relative whiteness of the fully opened blossoms immediately prior to petal drop tends to intensify with increasing amounts of sunshine.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation by a number of routes, including budding and grafting. The characteristics of the new variety have been found to be strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation to another.

The new variety has been named the Meikruza variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character, typical specimens of plant parts of the new variety when observed during April. The rose plants of the new variety described herein were grown at Cap d'Antibes, France, in a greenhouse and were grafted on Rosa indica rootstock.

FIG. 1 illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2 illustrates a specimen of a flowering bud before the opening of the sepals;

FIG. 3 illustrates a specimen of a flowering bud at the opening of the sepals;

FIG. 4 illustrates a specimen of a flowering bud at the opening of the petals;

FIG. 5 illustrates a specimen of a flower at the beginning of opening;

FIG. 6 illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening--plan view--obverse;

FIG. 7 illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening--plan view--reverse;

FIG. 8 illustrates two specimens of a fully open flower--plan view--obverse;

FIG. 9 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower--plan view--reverse;

FIG. 10 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing the arrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11 illustrates a specimen of a receptacle showing the arrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12 illustrates a specimen of a young flowering stem;

FIG. 13 illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets--upper surface;

FIG. 15 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets--upper surface; and

FIG. 16 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets--under surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The terminology preceding the numbered references has been added to designate in common terms the corresponding colors. The rose plants of the new variety described herein were grown at Cap d'Antibes, France, in a greenhouse while grafted on Rosa indica rootstock.

Class: Hybrid Tea.

Plant:

Height.--When plants are pruned to 85 cm., flower-bearing stems of approximately 30 to 70 cm. in length are produced.

Habit.--Upright.

Branches:

Color.--Young Stems: bronze green, Yellow-Green Group 146B, and spotted with a reddish-brown tinge. Mature Wood: bronze green, Yellow-Green Group 146B.

Thorns.--Shape: Upper Edge: Very straight with a slight curve which is inflected toward the base. Lower Edge: very slightly concave. Size: medium. Quantity: medium. Color: On Young Stems: reddish. On Mature Wood: reddish blended with havana brown.

Leaves:

Stipules.--Large and linear.

Petioles.--Inner Surface: grooved and brownish red on young foliage and green on adult foliage. Outer Surface: light green and somewhat shaded with brownish red with several small hooked thorns.

Leaflets.--Number: 3 and 5 (rarely), and 7 (most often). Shape: elliptic with a generally rounded and symmetrical base, and with an apex which is pointed and symmetrical. Serration: simple and regular. Texture: leathery. Color (Young Foliage): Upper Surface: reddish brown. Under Surface: reddish brown. Color (Adult foliage): Upper Surface: dark green, Yellow-Green Group 147A. Under Surface: medium green, Yellow-Green Group 147B.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--Generally one per stem.

Peduncle.--Straight, rigid, and smooth; its length is approximately 8 cm. on average.

Sepals.--Upper Surface: tomentose, greenish in coloration. Under Surface: clear green in coloration, often bearing glandular appendages on the edges.

Buds.--Shape: conical at the opening of the sepals, then cylindrical at the opening of the petals. Length: approximately 3.5 cm. on average. Size: medium. Color (When Opening): Upper Surface: light canary yellow (Yellow Group 9D), lightly suffused with Orange Group 29C. Under Surface: cream yellow (Yellow Group 8D), lightly suffused with Orange Group 29C.

Flower.--Form: double, the sides initially are substantially parallel. Diameter: approximately 13.5 cm. on average. Color (When Opening Beings): Upper Surface: very pale canary yellow (Yellow Group 9D), suffused with Orange Group 29C. Under Surface: cream yellow (Yellow Group 8D), lightly suffused with Orange Group 29C, with the suffusion being more evident at the base of the petal. Color (When Partially Open): Upper Surface: light yellow (Yellow-Orange Group 19D), suffused with light salmon pink (Orange Group 27C), most noticeably on the interior petals. Under Surface: pale yellow (Yellow-Orange Group 19D), suffused with light salmon pink (Orange Group 27D), most noticeably on the interior petals. Color (At End Of Opening): Upper Surface: Yellow-Orange Group 19D, suffused with light salmon pink (Orange Group 27C). Under Surface: Yellow Group 8D, suffused with light salmon pink (Orange Group 27D). Fragrance: slight. Lasting Quality: very long. Corolla (Petals): Texture: very consistent. Number: approximately 31 on average. Form: apex is round, with a point forming at the center of the apex; base is cuneiform. Stamens: Number: approximately 149 on average. Anthers: light yellow in coloration. Pistils: Number: approximately 96 on average. Receptacle: light green in coloration, at the dehiscence of the anthers in longitudinal cross-section it is jug shaped.

Development:

Vegetation.--Vigorous.

Blossoming.--Abundant.

Aptitude to greenhouse forcing.--Very good.

Disease resistance.--Very good. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant characterized by the fact that:(a) from a physical point of view, the plant has deep green adult wood, an upright growth habit, and forms attractive pale yellow blossoms of long duration which often are very lightly suffused with a light salmon pink coloration and comprise consistent petals; and (b) from a biological point of view, the plant has vigorous vegetation, flowers abundantly, and exhibits good resistance to diseases;substantially as herein shown and described. 